1 out of 100

Well I had the sheer pleasure taking part in Jury Duty these past 2 days.

I was called to serve Jury Duty yesterday, and was less than thrilled about it. I don't get paid for Jury Duty, so I either have to take a vacation day or take a day without pay. Neither of which is a great option.

I've gone to Jury Duty once before, and it was a truly awful experience. They did not call one person the whole day, and we just sat for 9 hours until they released us out into rush hour traffic.

So I went yesterday hoping to keep an open mind and make the best out of the experience. At about 2 pm they called my name along with about 100 others to be on a panel. Well this was kind of exciting! I had no idea what to expect and was a bit intrigued.

We all went up to a court room and where told that this would be a felony case concerning a DUI. I figured there was no way that the defense would want me on the jury. I don't drink, never have and pretty much think it's a completely useless and destructive habit (Normally I wouldn't say this, but honestey is part of the new me).

So they start to interview people. They call 12, and then the judge asks questions, the prosecutor asks questions and the defense attorney asks questions. The attorneys dismiss people they don't want to be on the jury and this process continues. And continues... Until 4:45 yesterday when those of us left were sent home only to be told we had to come back today. Ugh.

So I go back today, and this process continues again, and again. By this point I'm wondering what I have to do to get my name called. I felt like I was back in grade school PE and they were picking teams for kickball. My heart fell each time my name didn't get called.

If you get your name called, and they don't want you, you get to go home. One lady got to go home at 9:20 this morning! After lunch there were only 4 of us left, so they called in a bunch more people to be part of panel in case they went through all of us.

Finally, they fill all 12 juror positions. There were only 3 of us left from yesterday that didn't get interviewed. 3 out of 100! And I was on of those three. But wait! The judge wants an alternate juror, just in case! They call one of the 3 people left (not me) and she rants about alcohol until they dismiss her. So they call one of the 2 people left from yesterday (again not me) and she is chosen as the alternate. So out of 100 people in the panel, I was the only one who did not get interviewed.

After they jury was chosen the judge said that there was only 1 remaining person from yesterday. I raised my hand and she said thanked me for my patience. Yeah. Thanks indeed! Thanks aren’t going to bring back this completely wasted "vacation" day (some fine vacation!). At least I'm clear for a year. And, I got paid $15 and $0.34 per mile one way for my service today. Wooo Hooo!